Telephone coin-register.



W. 0. BECK.

TELEPHONE G01N REGISTER.

APPLIOATION FILED JULY 20, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

l llillll Patented July 14, 1914.

/m/emo/f. l/V//b/NO. 5 eC/v.

by :FM @M f THE NURS PETER LO SHINCTUN C l/V//Hess es:

W. O. BECK.

TELEPHONE GOIN REGISTER.

APPLIGATION FILED JULY zo, 1912.

1,1 03,650. Patented July 14, 1914.

2 SHEETS-SHBET 2,

Vf A A l Illlllllllllllllllllll \\\\\&\\\\

lill/1111lll/11111111111111111111 1;

Vl//7/ 7ssesx i d W////`o7m 0. B/f. b aan @az/2 y rgi nl: NcrRls PETERS ca., wAsH'Nn'roy. n. c.

- NTED STATES P iIENT OFFICE.

WILLIAIM 0. BECK, OFRIDGEFIELD, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, or NEW YORK, N. Y.

, A CORPORATION OF ILLINOIS.

TELEPHONE COIN-REGISTER.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed July 20, 1912.

Patented J uy 14, 1914. serial No. 710,692.

To all whom t may conce/M7.

Be it known that I, VILLIAM O. BECK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridgefield, in the county of Bergen and State of New Jersey, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Telephone Coin-Registers, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to service registering devices and is particularly adapt-ed for use in connection with coin collectors for telephone systems, although not exclusively limited to such use.

The general object of this invention is to provide a new and improved registering device for recording the number of successful calls, which is simple in construction and reliable and efficient in operation.

To accomplish the above object, an electromagnetically controlled registering` train is provided adapted to operate in connection with a coin collector which is arranged to either deposit or refund the toll. Hechanisms are provided whereby only success* ful calls or those in which the toll is deposited are registered upon the counting train.

The invention will be fully understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings in which,`

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a coin collector having the invention embodied therein, the housing of the coin collector being shown in dotted lines; Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the coin collector with the housing and outer wall of the coin chute removed.; Fig. 3 is a sectional plan view of the registering device showing its relation to the coin collector mechanism; Figs. 4, 5 and 6 are details of the mechanism actuating the register train shown in various positions; F 7, is a detail view of the device for locking the register actuating mechanism in its withdrawn position; Fig. 3 is a detail of a part of the device projecting into the deposit channel of the coin collector.

The coin collector herein shown, with which this invention is associated, consists of a back plate 5 to which is secured a coin chute 6. The coin chute 6 consists of the usual zig-Zag channel 7, deposit channel 8 1 leading to the cash box 9, and refund channel 10. A housing 11 secured to the back plate 5 incloses the entire mechanism and the cash box 9. The housing 11 is provided with a projecting coin receptacle 12, and a refund cup 13 which are in a-linement with the runway of the coin chute 6. F astened to the coin chute G is the usual coin arresting and directing means comprising polarized electromagnetic coils 2O and 21 and a movable armature 22 pivoted between screws 23 and 24. The armature 22 carries a ixed sto-p pin 25, a movable stop pin and circuit closer 2G, and a contact post 27. A coin placed in the receptacle 12 and released, passes down the zig-zag channel 7 until it reaches the stop pins 25 and 26; here the co-in takes the position shown in Fig. 2, actuating the movable stop pin 26 until it contacts with the post 27, thereby completing the signal circuit. In this position the coin may be deposited in the cash box 9 through the channel 8, or may be directed to the refund cup 13 through the channel 10, depending upon the direction of current through the coils 2O and 21.

The mechanism thus far described is well known and forms no part of this invention.

Secured to the back plate 5 is a frame member 30 forming the foundation structure of the coin registering device. A train of numbered wheels 31, 32, 33 and 34 ride loosely upon a shaft 35 whose bearings are in the frame member 30. A ratchet wheel 36 is securely mounted on the number wheel 34 and is likewise adapted to rotate upon the shaft 35. Suitable well known means, not shown, are provided for imparting rotary motion successively to the wheels 32 and 31 from the wheel 34 so that the proper count is kept in units, tens, hundreds and thousands. lithin the frame member 30 is located an electromagnet 40 connected in an electric circuit in series with the coils 20 and 21 of the coin collector magnet system. The electromagnet 40 is provided with a movable armature 41 pivoted at 42 and adapted to be attracted each time the electromagnet 40 is energized. A helical spring- 43, secured at one end to the armature 41 and at the other end to the lug 44 carried by the frame 30, exerts a force on the armature opposed .to the pull of the electromagnet 40. The

force exerted by the spring 43 is, however, insuliicient to counteract the attractive force of the electromagnet 40, but is suflicient to restore the armature to normal position upon the dcmagnetization of the electroma'gnet. The armature 41 carries an actuating pawl 45 pivotally attached to the armature by a screw 46 and adapted to engage the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36 upon the return movement of the armature 41. A spring member 47, secured at one end to the armature 41 by means of a screw or rivet 48 and having its free end resting against a rear projection 49 of the pawl 45, tends to force the pawl upward insuring that it con` tacts with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36. A holding pawl 50 pivoted to the frame at 51 is arranged to Contact with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36, and thus prevent the pawl 45, in dragging over the teeth of the ratchet wheel, from rotating the registering train backward.

The armature 41 carries in addition to the pawl 45 a rearwardly projecting lever 55 pivotally supported by the screw 46. This lever 55 has a notch 56 provided with an overhanging projection 57 at its forward end and an approximately right-angle shoulder 58 at its rear end. The lever 55 projects through a hole 60 in a downwardly projecting stop or locking member 61. A spring 62 provided with an off-set 63 is secured to the frame and the locking member 61 at 64 and is bent so that the lower or free end lies away from the locking member 61. In normal position, as shown in Fig. 4, the upper edge of the off-set 63 of the spring 62 is slightly above the line of the bottom edge of the hole 60 in the locking member 61. When the electromagnet 40 is energized, the armature 41 moves to the right against the retractile force of the spring 43. In the backward movement of the lever 55 the overhanging projection 57 contacts with the ofi! set 63 of the spring 62. Further backward movement of the lever 55 forces the lower end of the spring 62 nearer the locking member 61, nitting the spring 62 under tension and causing the upper edge of the off-set to be slightly below the lower edge of the hole 60 in the locking member 61. The lever 55 is therefore forced downward until the top of the slot 56 bears against the bottom of the hole 60 in the locking member 61. In Fig. 5 the mechanism is shown in its rearmost position. llVhen the flow of actuating current through the coil 40 of the register and coils 20 and 21 of the coin collecter is interrupted, the spring 43 pulls the armature 41, and consequently the pivoted lever 55, forward and the operation of the pawl upon the register train is controlled by a deposited coin descending the deposit chute 8 as hereinafter described.

A downwardly projecting lever is piv- Oted to the supporting frame member 71 by means of a pin 72. This lever 7 0 is provided at its upper end with an upwardly turned projection 73 adapted to engage the rearmost end of the lever 55 when raised about the pin 72. The bottom end of the lever 70 is provided with a curved portion 74. The curved portion 74 rests upon a lever 7 5 pivoted between upwardly projecting ears 76 and 77 of the frame member 71 by the pin 7 8. One end of the lever projects into the deposit channel of the coin collector to be struck by a coin in its downward course into the cash box. The upper end of the lever 75 is arranged to act upon the curved portion 74 of the lever 70. A coin striking the lever 75 causes it to revolve about its pivot 78 raising the upper portion thereof to elevate the lever 70. The lever 70 on being elevated rotates about its pivot 72 and the upward projection 73 engages the rear end of the lever 55 giving it an upward motion about its pivot 46. In rising the lever 55 disengages the off-set 63 of the spring member 62 from the overhanging projection 57. This disengagement of the off-set 63 and projection 57 allows the spring 62 to move its lower end away from the locking member 61 and the lever 55 rests upon the top of the off-set 63. In this position (shown in Fig. 6) the lower edge of the shoulder 58 lies above the line of the lower edge of the hole 60 in the locking member 61 allowing the spring 43 to advance the armature 41 when the actuating current is interrupted. The pawl 45 carried thereby engages the teeth of the ratchet wheel 36, and the forward movement of the armture 41 and the pawl 45 continues until the pawl 45 contacts with a stop 80 in which position the mechanism is in its normal condition as shown in Figs. 3 and 4. If the actuating current is interrupted before the deposited coin trips the controlling mechanism the armature 41 and the actuating pawl 45 will move forward until the square shoulder 58 of the lever 55 contacts with the lower edge of the hole 60 in the member 62. The mechanism is then in a set position ready to bc released by a coin descending the deposit channel 8, as herein before described. In case the call has been unsuccessful, the coin is directed into the refund channel 10 to the refund cup 13. Under this condition, the lever 75 is not actuated and the lever 55 is not disengaged from the locking member 61 to allow the spring actuated pawl 45 to rotate the register train. The mechanism therefore remains in set position until the next successful call, when it is released as hereinbefore described.

Vhat I claim is:

1. In combination, a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and electromagnetically controlled means for directing a coin into either of said channels; and a register comprising a register train, remotely controlled selfrestoring means for actuating said train, and means operable by a coin in said deposit channel and cooperating with said self-restoring means for controlling the actuation of said train.

2. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and an electromagnetically controlled system for directing a coin into either of said channels, of a registering train, an actuator therefor, electromagnetic means for moving said actuator into operative position to said train, and means operable by a coin in said deposit channel for allowing said actuator to operate said register train.

3. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and an electromagnetic device for directing a coin into either of said channels, of a registering train, an electromagnctically set selfvrestoring actuator therefor, and means controlled by a coin in said deposit channel and coopera-ting with said actuator for allowing said actuator to operate said register train.

e. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and an electromagnetic system for controlling the disposition of a coin into either of said channels, of a registering train, an electromagnetically set actuator therefor, means for operatively restoring said actuator, and means operable by a coin in said deposit channel and cooperating with said actuator for controlling said actuator to allow itto be operatively restored by said first mentioned means.

5. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and electromagnetic means for directing the coin into either of said channels, of a register train, an actuator therefor, electromagnetic means for placing said actuator in operative position relative to said train, a lever projecting into saiddeposit channel and in operative connection with said actuator for controlling the same, and means for restoring said actuator after the operation of said electromagnetic means to operate said 1 register train.

6. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and electromagnetic means for directing a coin into either of said channels, of a register train, an actuating pawl therefor, electromagnetic means for withdrawing said pawl into operative position relative to said train, means for locking said pawl in withdrawn position, means for returningsaid pawl to normal position, and a coin actuated lever projecting into said deposit channel and operatively connected to said second mentioned means for releasing said actuated pawl to operate said register train.

7. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector, comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and electromagnetic means for controlling the descent of a coin into either of said channels, of a register train, an actuating pawl therefor, an electromagnet, an armature actuated thereby and connected to said pawl for withdrawing the same from engagement with said train, means for advancing said armature and pawl, a lever connected to said armature, means cooperating with said lever for locking said armature in withdrawn position, coin controlled means projecting into said deposit channel, an operative connection between said coin controlled means and said lever for unlocking said armature to allow said pawl to advance, and means connected to said armature for directing the advance of said actuator upon said train.

8. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and electromagnetic means for directing a coin into either of said channels, of a register train, an actuating pawl therefor, an electromagnet, an armature therefor connected to said pawl for withdrawing the same from engagement with said train, a lever carried by said armature, a locking member coperating with sai-d lever to lock said pawl in withdrawn position, means tending to return said pawl into engagement with said train, a second lever adapted to engage said first mentioned lever, a third lever projecting into said deposit channel and operated by a coin therein and cooperating with said second mentioned lever for causing said second lever to engage said first mentioned lever for releasing the same, and means carried by said armature and in operative relation with said pawl whereby the advancement of said pawl is directed upon said train.

9. In a coin register, the combination with a coin collector comprising a coin chute having deposit and refund channels, and an electromagnetic device for controlling the descent of a coin into either of said channels, of a register train, a holding and an actuating pawl therefor, an electromagnet, an armature therefor connected to said pawl for withdrawing the same from engagement with said train, a lever connected to said armature, means coperating with said lever for locking said armature in withdrawn position, a spring connected to said armature tending to advance said pawl to operate said train, a second spring connected to said ISG armature and bearing against said pawl for means to allow said pawl to advance to acdirecting the advance of the pawl upon the tuate said train. 10 train, a second lever cooperating with said In Witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe rst; mentioned lever, a third lever projeetmy name this 18th day of July A. D., 1912. 5 ing into said depositJ channel to be struck VILLIAM O. BECK.

by a descending coin and coperating with said second mentioned lever to disengage the rst mentioned lever from said locking Titnesses JAMES lV. FARRELL, Ross O. HINKLE.

Uopiel of thin-patent may be obtained for tive cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patenti. Washington, D. C. 

